The extension of the European ETS to maritime transport greenhouse gas emission allowance trading will result in the by 2024 alone, more than three billion euros in costs from the shipping companies due to the CO2 emissions produced. The highlighted Assarmatori by announcing that he had sent together with Confitarma the update of the document "The Route to the net zero. Together to decarbonise the maritime sector" Committee of Experts appointed by CIPOM (Committee on the Interministerial Committee for Sea Policies) and the Head of Cabinet of the Ministry of the Sea and Civil Protection, Riccardo Rigillo.

The document was drafted together with Eni and the collaboration of three of the world's largest manufacturers of marine engines (Wärtsilä, WinGD and MAN Energy Solutions), as well as Unem, Federchimica/Assogasliquidi, Assocostieri and RINA, which He oversaw the work of 40 experts that began last March. The document - Assarmatori recalled - defines an orientation starting from the analysis of the technological evolution of the engines and availability, also in terms of infrastructure, low-intensity energy carriers and the work also contains an articulated analysis of the Options available for industry-based decarbonization on the optimization of cost curves and availability in the short and medium term, to enable shipowners to to meet the targets of the FuelEU Maritime Regulation, the requirements of the Emission Trading System (ETS) Directive and IMO, as well as other other national requirements.

With reference to the costs for 2024 of the extension to the EU ETS, as a result of research carried out by the also by RINA and contained in the update of the document, Assarmatori specified that the figure of three billion is estimated on the basis of the emissions reported in the EU MRV system (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) in 2022, taking into account a period of gradual roll-out of the ETS, which includes the allowances for only 40% of CO2 emissions returned in 2025 2024 and taking into account the value of CO2 allowances (EU Allowances (EUA) of an average value of €100 per tonne of carbon dioxide.

"To have worked together on this document and to have it jointly presented to CIPOM and the Minister's structure for Sea Policies and Civil Protection - highlighted Mario Zanetti, president of Confitarma, and Stefano Messina, Chairman of Assarmatori - once again emphasizes the will shipowners - and many companies have made a strong contribution to this work - to do everything in their power with a view to decarbonisation of maritime transport. We have offered to the experts - explained Zanetti and Messina - a work that We believe it is complete and identifies the different paths that can be followed, not necessarily in conflict, to reduce the carbon footprint of shipping in a rational way. On this path, however, Armament cannot be left alone: answers are needed by the land-based industry for the identification and production of alternative fuels, an accompaniment to the institutions and a national, EU and pragmatic international policy, which does not set unrealistic and not functional for true environmental sustainability."